Reading is a hobby for me and many others, but did you know that most people don’t know how to read books? If you genuinely want to understand the novel you’re reporting on, you must learn how to read it correctly. Whether you’re in middle school, high school, or college, I’ve listed nine helpful tips for getting the most out of reading a novel.
1. Have a Purpose for Reading
The first thing you need to identify before you even start reading is your purpose. Start by asking yourself why you want to read the book. This step involves a bit of planning and will allow you to anticipate your problems with reading and see how you can provide solutions for them. When you know the purpose behind reading a book, you’re giving instructions to your brain on what to look for while you read.
This will give you a sense of mission, and once your mind is in the zone, it will start looking for important points and critical passages to help you.
2. Stop To Think and Analyze
It’s not enough to simply read a novel word for word. When you don’t understand a word or are unsure about something in particular, stop and think about these instances. The key to comprehending a book is to realize where your weaknesses are. There won’t be any solutions if there are no problems.
When unsure of how to proceed, be sure to reflect on what you understand and try to look for examples or the meaning of a word through the internet. It’s also crucial that you don’t skim through your book or read as quickly as possible; remember your purpose and why you’re reading it in the first place.
Remember that learning is the main point behind reading books and novels, so if you don’t take the time to analyze and reflect when needed, you won’t get the most out of your book.
3. Take Down Notes and Ideas
This is probably one of the easiest ways to retain more information from reading a book, and all you have to do is to jot down notes or ideas that you find interesting. Again, you can’t skim through the book to get the most out of your reading time, so come prepared with a notebook and pen. For instance, you can use a special notebook to write down your notes and ideas while reading.
When needed, you can review your notes and look for particular details you need when writing book reports or when memorizing passages. Remember that your reason for reading the book isn’t just to get done with it; you’re on a mission to understand the story and to get the most out of it. Be sure to take your time writing down your notes and ideas, and wait for them to inspire you.
4. Reread the Book if Needed
This is important if you didn’t fully understand the book first. When I’m puzzled by certain plot scenes in a book, I make it a point to go back and reread those parts or start from the beginning if needed. Other times, if I liked a book in particular, I would revisit and relive the story to get extra details that I may have missed during my first pass at it.
Remember that reading a book isn’t just for finishing it. If the book interests you, it’s best to reread it a few times over to get a good grasp of the ideas and story inside.
5. Pay Attention to Every Detail
Some books won’t just have words — others will have images, Q&As, charts, and more. Be sure to look into these other details. As the saying goes, “a picture can tell a thousand words,” so if you want to focus on different parts of a book, look for extras like maps or drawings.
An easy way to remember things you learned from reading a novel is to share them with others. The great Confucius once said, “I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand.” This means that we all tend to forget things we read, mainly because plenty of things might need attention.
Simply reading a book and then leaving it on the table is the least effective method of retaining information. The best way to keep details in your head is to share them with someone, like a classmate. You can also share your thoughts on the book with your friends and family, where you can casually talk to your friends about topics or ideas in the book while chatting.
7. Make a Quick Summary of the Novel
Writing down a novel summary is another excellent way to remember details and keep information in your head. There are many ways to do this, like creating an outline for every section, chapter, or book. I will usually create a summary after finishing each chapter and then make a final summary for the whole book once I finish reading it.
There’s no right or wrong way to do this process. Just make sure you write down things that you feel are important or needed for future reference.
8. Build Up Your Vocabulary
If there’s a word that has you stumped, be sure to research it and check its context to help you piece paragraphs together. This will help you understand the book better and learn how to use words outside the novel. Google is an excellent source of information and knowledge, so you must search for terms you don’t recognize.
Once the research is done, I would first piece the puzzle together based on the story’s context. Then I would practice using the word in my own words. Next, I would write the comment down and its meaning and use it as much as possible to ensure I don’t forget it.
9. Read Two Books Simultaneously
When I started this practice, I found that reading two books simultaneously can be more inspiring than reading one. As such, I’ve made it a point to assign times for the books I read, where one is read during the day and the other at night, and I write notes for both readers. I also discovered that reading two books gives me more options, so when I’m tired, I can read a more relaxing novel, but when I want more inspiration, I read a more exciting book.
You can try this method if you wish, but you mustn’t spread yourself too thin. Two books are fine, but any more than that could be too taxing on your mind. However, if reading two books makes it too hard for you to focus, stick to reading one book at a time.
Conclusion
Now that you know my favorite tips for making the most out of your novel, you should be able to get as much information as possible for all your book reports or presentations. While you don’t need to apply every tip mentioned above, each can help you improve your retention of information. Be flexible and adapt to which angles work best for you. Further, if you want to master the basics of reading textbooks, consider our StudyRight course for only $9. Here is a sneak preview of one of the lessons within that curriculum.
FAQs:
What is the proper way to read a novel?
The best method to read a book is to schedule a specific reading time, ensure that the environment is comfortable and well-lit, make notes or summarize the important ideas as you go, and then think about the themes and characters after you’ve finished.
What are the benefits of reading novels?
Reading novels has been shown to increase vocabulary, critical thinking, comprehension, empathy, and knowledge of many points of view, as well as serve as a kind of enjoyment and escape from everyday life.
What is the purpose of reading a novel?
Reading a book serves the purposes of entertainment, education, and the world and human experience knowledge.
How do you read a novel and understand it?
Start by focusing on the story’s storyline, characters, location, themes, and symbols if you want to read and comprehend a book. Make an effort to draw parallels between the narrative and your own life or the environment as you read.
As you read, make notes or a summary of the essential elements; after you’ve finished, consider the themes and characters. For a better understanding, you might read reviews or analyses of the book.
Sources
https://www.liternauts.com/how-to-get-the-most-of-your-reading/
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-reading
https://stunningmotivation.com/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-reading-a-book/
https://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/05/25/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-books/
https://studyright.net/blog/reading-a-novel/